Horoscopes: Be braver, Sagittarius

Today’s birthday: So what if you’re susceptible to flattery? You deserve to be admired, so soak it up. Next month alters your professional landscape most favorably. February brings financial resources, and you’ll work toward a domestic scene that supports your changing ideals and emerging values.The most romantic month is May. Taurus and Gemini people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 12, 42, 20, 19 and 35.

Aries (March 21-April 19): No, it’s not an accidental social moment. The person talking loudly enough for you to overhear really wants you to take notice and is actually hoping for a future friendship.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Environments have emotional weather, and you’re like an expert meteorologist, observing people’s physical and subtle indicators to predict the next change in mood.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): Grade-school children might not have the confidence to find out whether so-and-so likes them, but you’ve long passed that phase. Instead of the roundabout way of getting information, you’ll go right to the source.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): If you behave as a mature adult, you shouldn’t have to put up with regularly occurring hissy fits and a pattern of passive-aggressive behavior from the other people your age with whom you choose to spend your time.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You are at your best when you aren’t worrying too much about whether or not you’re doing the right thing, the smart thing or the thing you’re passionate about. Do what occurs to you to do, and while you’re at it, try to have a little fun.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): As long as you’re progressing, don’t dwell on whether this is significant progress. You’re in a different place from where you were, and that’s all that really matters now.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): You’ll be up for a job. That you can do this job is a given. So while others work at being perceived as credible and responsible, you’ll start with “likeable and fun” and go from there.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Are your hunches prophetic? You’ll never know unless you act on them. A particularly strong inkling either will pan out within the next three days or not at all.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Learning about a person by looking at outdated pictures posted on social media is about as effective as stalking a person with Google Earth. Be brave. Get close in real time.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll be rewarded for the efforts you make even though it feels like you’re merely inching along. Sometimes the difference between winning and losing the race boils down to inches and seconds.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For this day to play out the way you want it to, you’re going to have to find more common ground with the people you wish to influence. A nonintrusive attitude of curiosity will help you get there.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): You have something that many would love to claim. The trouble is that you earned it so long ago that you are now taking it for granted – perhaps even complaining about it. You’ll be luckier after you’ve adjusted your perspective.

Write the astrologer, Holiday Mathis, at Creators Syndicate, 737 Third St., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 or at her page at the website www.creators.com.